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Detroit Marathon deaths spark discussions of appropriate training
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Rick Brown, 65, died at the Detroit Marathon on Sunday.
It is not unusual to read stories about a sudden death at a marathon, but the running community was taken aback when news broke that three runners collapsed and died at Sunday's Detroit Marathon. Rick Brown, 65; Daniel Langdon, 36; and Jonathan Fenlon, 26, were all running the half marathon event in Detroit. All of the men collapsed in the final miles of the 13.1-mile race, while Fenlon collapsed shortly after crossing the finish line.
Initial autopsy results show that the men were in good physical condition, and their families said they had trained to run the Detroit half marathon. However, these tragic deaths are sparking discussions among runners about what may be the appropriate level of training for marathons and even half marathons.
Sudden cardiac death is a concern for marathon runners. According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac death can be prompted by extreme athletic events. "Adrenaline released during intense physical or athletic activity often acts as a trigger for sudden death when abnormalities are present," says the AHA. Sudden cardiac death in young runners is often due to an underlying, undiagnosed heart abnormality, while older runners may have some level of heart disease and artery blockages.
As the Detroit marathon deaths illustrate, these heart problems or abnormalities can often be silent until it's too late. Given the rising popularity of marathons and half marathons, some experts speculate that more and more untrained runners are completing these events -- leading to more stories of sudden cardiac death at marathons. Just like other areas of the body, the heart must be trained to withstand the rigors of racing long distances through a training program of increasing mileage. Last year, Men's Health reported on a study showing that runners who averaged 45 miles per week before a marathon suffered less heart damage during the race than those who ran only 35 miles per week in training.
Other running experts recommend anywhere from 50 to 70 miles per week during marathon training. This type of mileage prepares your bones, muscles and your heart to run a 26.2 mile race. From all accounts, the men who died at the Detroit Marathon had trained appropriately for the race, which illustrates the importance of visiting your doctor before embarking on any endurance event.
Runners should also keep in mind that sudden cardiac death at marathons is very rare -- the risk is 1 in 50,000 runners, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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